The challenges are daunting. The deepening economic downturn is a stark reality. Today, tomorrow, and for years to come, budgets, staff, and services across health care will be impacted. And it is this very climate that creates an increased risk to patient safety and demands vigilance from us all.

Yet as adversity threatens, it also sparks creativity and ingenuity, encouraging new thinking that solves problems and attacks challenges in innovative ways.

This mindset is at the heart of the 2009 NPSF Patient Safety Congress, with programs designed to speak directly to the issues, needs, and concerns of all those deeply committed to the patient safety mission.

New learnings, practical tools, and innovative solutions, all presented in a motivational and productive atmosphere – this is what makes the NPSF Patient Safety Congress an event unlike any other, the "can't miss" program that fosters true change for a safer health care system.

Please make your plans now to join colleagues from across health care at this definitive and widely respected patient safety forum. Now more than ever, a determined and unwavering focus on patient safety initiatives is critical. The risks are too great to respond otherwise.